Module 7: Photography and society

Compare the work of Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield and elaborate:

- What are the differences and similarities?

- Do you think they had impact on the society and created changes? Can photography and photographers achieve something like that?

Similar: 1They are all from Europe, and I think art is first come from Europe, so they have lots of artists and fantastic artworks. 2 They are all artists and related with politics. 3 They all like making Montage, cutting pictures and setting them together. 4 They are all having huge impact to the society. 5 They are all revolutionary artist.

Difference: They come from different countries, and they have different backgrounds, Alexander was born in a working class family, due to his genus he won successes. He likes taking picture from special angle, such as from top to bottom or bottom to top it advocated the use of machine-made materials such as wire, glass, and sheet metal in the creation of socially useful art for a society in the midst of revolution. John Heartifield, he is a surrealism artist, he against Nazi by picture, satirizes Hitler, so that he had been hurt, his projects was been burned, and he was forced out of his home to Czech Republic. Peter Kennard, he is a contemporary artist. He created pictures to against Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. He gave up painting to concentrate on photomontage, the art form for which he is probably best known. This he describes as the merging of one picture with another so as to create a third and critical image. It cannot be termed propaganda as Peter’s work allows people to draw their own conclusions from what they see.

Do you they had impact on the society and created changes?

Yes, they have huge impact on the society.

They uses their artwork to show message to people, influences them. Let people know what is going on now, what is now we should concern about. Photography has huge impact on society by creating public notice, they telling people truth in silent.

Can photography and photographers achieve such a thing?

In my opinion, it depends. I think in the old days, such as 19^th, politics have no power than now, in those days, photography and photographers achieve that. But, now politics so powerful, for example: Ai weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, active in sculpture, installation, architecture, curating, photography, film, and social, political and cultural criticism. He was looking into politics problems, but he was been arrest and violence by governments. So, personally, photography and photographers can impact whole society, due to politics or government, their projects may be hided.